Another Framingham State student reports sexual assault

A fourth Framingham State University student came forward Friday with a claim she was sexually assaulted on campus, a school spokesman said.

Scott O'Connell/Daily News staff

A fourth Framingham State University student came forward Friday with a claim she was sexually assaulted on campus, a school spokesman said.

At 3:05 a.m., the female student told her resident director she was the victim of a forcible sexual offense at North Hall, according to the university. The director then informed police.

The suspect, a male resident student, has since been removed from campus and banned from all classes and school activities as police investigate the incident, according to the university's external relations coordinator, Dan Magazu.

Earlier this week, the school reported another male student had been temporarily banned from the school after three students accused him of sexually assaulting them. Police believe all three incidents happened at Towers Hall.

That investigation is also ongoing, according to the university.

School officials called a meeting on campus Friday afternoon to tell students about the latest alleged assault. The incident has also been reported to the Framingham Police Department, which is assisting the university with the investigation.

The alleged victim said she knew her assailant, according to Magazu.

"While we are confident there is no immediate danger to students, campus police and residence life security will be increasing their presence in and around dorms," he said. "The safety of our community remains our top priority and we urge anyone who has seen or heard about any activity of concern to call campus police."

So far no charges have been filed in any of the cases. According to the university police department, forcible sexual assault encompasses any kind of sexual act committed against a victim's will or for which he or she is incapable of giving consent.

At Friday's meeting, FSU Police Chief Brad Medeiros said the two cases were unrelated and "different in nature." He also assured the hundreds of students in attendance that police determined in both situations the suspects did not pose an immediate danger, which is why a campus-wide safety alert was not issued.

But several students, one of whom lives at Towers Hall and said she didn't hear about the first sexual assault report until she saw it on the news earlier this week, told officials the school should have let students know sooner about the allegations, which campus police learned about Sept. 19.

The number of assaults alleged so far this semester is high for Framingham State, which only had two forcible sex offenses reported in the dorms last year and four the year before that, according to campus police records.

"When a member of our community is victimized in any way, it's harmful to all of us," President Timothy Flanagan told students Friday. "(The allegations) are very, very serious matters, and I want you all to know the university takes them seriously."

Dean of Students Melinda Stoops urged attendees at Friday's meeting to contact campus police, her office, or visit the school's health and counseling centers if they have any concerns for their or someone else's safety. Medeiros also advised students to steer clear of drugs and alcohol while on campus.

"From time to time, we do run into times when bad judgment, caused by impairment, plays a factor in these bad situations we deal with," he said.

(Scott O'Connell can be reached at 508-626-4449 or soconnell@wickedlocal.com)